2 Thoughts - Meaning & Legacy
#1: Man's Search for Meaning
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” -Nietzsche
There is a famous book called Man's Search for Meaning, written by Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, that can be distilled down to this singular quote. As I'm about to head out on a 5 day Impact Trip with my daughter, I'm cognizant of the fact that all roads lead to "why".
By spending a few days building houses for people who have nearly nothing (by our wealthy standards) - and who are still happy without it - I'm hoping to get a little more insight into the why of life.
It's no secret that America's mental health is not in a great place. I have a theory that it's a little bit like Hunger Games Capital District. We have so much that we are not forced to find true connection and value in anything.
I especially see this in the teens and twenty somethings. Because we can connect superficially to so many things, we don't actually commit to BELONGING anywhere. And because of that, we feel a little hollow.
#2: The Back-Story To This Trip
One group that I fiercely belong to is 7 Figure Flipping. It is a group of real estate investors who are driven to succeed in business, and to make the world a better place as a result of their success. We affectionately call them #firestarters, because we know they are the spark that will light flames of good across the world. At least that's been the common theme in my experience with both past and present members.
A few years ago we launched the 7 Figure Foundation with the intent of giving those investors an outlet for their generosity, and they showed up in a big way. We raised money and planned our first Impact Trip. One of the requirements - that we be able to bring our children.
When I look at my corporate life, the one obvious fact was that we served the business and our families came second. My goal is to build a business that enhances my family, and doesn't steal me away from them for long stretches (both physically and mentally). If I'm going to spend more than 50% of my waking hours working, but my primary job for 20 years is to be a parent that teaches my kids to be functioning members of society, then I better think long and hard about the lessons my work teaches my kids.
Enter the Impact Trips. This is my second Mexico house-building adventure. Last year I took my 11 year old. This year I'm taking my 14 year old. I won't know for certain what lasting impression this has for years to come, but I can tell you that 15 months after our first trip, my daughter still spends time thinking and talking about how different it is there and how happy they were without all our "stuff". I hope that I've planted a seed for both belonging and generosity that will grow into something beautiful.
